In response to the fatal shooting of a SEPTA bus driver, Bernard Gribbin, in October 2023, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is pushing forward with a new pilot program to install bulletproof glass enclosures to protect its bus operators. Gribbin, who was killed while driving his route along Germantown Avenue, has become a catalyst for the longstanding concerns about driver safety. CBS News Philadelphia reported that the enclosures were tested yesterday, with SWAT officers firing multiple rounds to assess their durability, and most bullets were effectively stopped.
According to the same report, the glass enclosures, crafted by Custom Glass Solutions and costing around $15,000 each, are being tested for ballistic resistance and serve as a deterrent to unauthorized entry. Despite one bullet making it through the glass during the test, Custom Glass Solutions' director, Chad Beach, said that the bullet was slowed to a degree where it would likely not cause serious injury. Over at the Bucks County shooting range, FOX 29 highlighted similar tests against heavy-caliber firepower from a 9 MM pistol and a 357 magnum, confirming the shield's capability to withstand such assaults.
Brian Pollitt, president of Transport Workers Union Local 234, expressed contentment with the progress being made, as the union has advocated for increased safety for their members and the general public. As 6ABC disclosed, the pilot program aims to commence in the following month, with eight buses to be outfitted with bulletproof glass cockpits, targeting routes considered at high risk.
